Autumn eve

A late autumn evening over the Rio Grande Reservoir

The grasses, what remain of the mountain’s summer bounty, are tired and brown. Time and again they have been crushed by the weight of the early season snows, thick and moist, and still they stand tall, defiant, straight and proud, with the last of their exhausted energy, waving in the evening winds that meander up the hillside in the last of the warmth of the day. The snow has melted again. It will return before the rich earth shaded behind the tufts of grass is able to dry.

There will be another storm soon to push them back down, testing strength of wills or solid matters. I have seen through the burden of winter snow, a field void of color and life, with rocks and brush covered clean in a smooth white wash, and peaking through I see a seed head, defying the forces that claim greater than they.

And in turn, in kind, there is balance. In the seasons, the elements, the coming and going of time and growth and death, as the last of the geese congregate on the flats of the reservoir where the river and streams converge. They prepare for their long journey southward, flying low in formation of sight and sound over the bluffs above the river in the early morning as I feed the horses, listening to the distant haunting call resonating to the last of their kind remaining in the high country. Time is running out. Again.

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Responses

I am jealous it is still in the 90s here .I dont think there will ever be winter .Winter is hard on you but not having a change of seasons is hard also .
There is a mountain near here .Its about 12000 ft
i am going to start getting back in shape and hike the mountain until i can get out and back to a real world.
DON

By: DON BENTLEY on October 19, 2009 at 10:15 AM

Good for you, Don, you know, getting back into hiking, even just a little bit, would be good for you. (and, good for us, getting you in shape for visiting us at this elevation!!!)

Oh, the geese! What a treat is was to hear them each morning while we were there. Cody would run around looking toward the windows cocking his head back and forth!

By: Karen Bailey on October 19, 2009 at 6:14 PM

Gin,

Nice articles on the River. Can you pen a few lines (you are so talented) on the mysterious and secretive trout who make that River their home, especially where you are, above the lake and dam?

Did you receive the rose information and photo? My roses at home are really nice (fall is better than spring) and full of color.

Al

By: Al Olson on October 20, 2009 at 5:07 AM

Hi Al – Thanks for buttering me up, and now I’ll be glad to muse on the elusive trout – that will be fun. Busy morning here already, late on sitting down to write today. You bet, I got the info and photo on roses, thank you. I have that on my “to do” list for the next couple of weeks and should have fun with this idea – I’ll let you know. This is our last “busy” week with guests here. Isn’t it crazy how quickly the summer goes?